Baling machines

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a baling machine which has a baling chamber in which is housed a reciprocable ram. One wall of the baling chamber has a wedge-shaped cavity which provides relief for any overpressure which may occur while the ram is in operation, in the chamber. Also, adjacent to the wedge-shaped cavity and arranged within the chamber, is a tucker which folds the edges of the feed material to produce a uniform baling configuration, material weakening means also being provided in the chamber to facilitate the folding of feed material edges by the tucker.

O Unlted States Patent [72] Inventors Walter N. Powell 2,293,679 8/1942 Barker 100/98 Church Lane, St. Helens, Lancashire; 3,073,239 1/1963 Cowan et al. 100/1 79 Allan F. Powell, Oak Close Weston, FOREIGN T N S Pmmummmre; Andemn, 709 640 5/1931 France 100/179 5"? 2 1,138I528 1/1957 France 100/187 525,349 5/1931 Germany 100/98 [21] Appl. No. 748,713 Filed 1360,1968 1,087,152 10/1967 'GreatBntam 100/187 Patented Feb. 16, 1971 Primary Examiner-B|lly .l. Wilhite Attorney-Ernest G. Montague IN S [54] 3 Figs. ABSTRACT: The present invention discloses a baling machine which has a baling chamber in which is housed a [52] U.S.Cl. 100/98, reciprocaue ram o n f the b li chamber has 3 100/187 wedge-shaped cavity which provides relief for any overpressure may occur the ram is in operation in the Field of Search /98, chamben Also, adjacent to the wedge shaped cavity and ab 187, 220 ranged within the chamber, is a tucker which folds the edges of the feed material to produce a unifiorm baling configura- [56] References C'ted tion, material weakening means also being provided in the UNITED STATES PATENTS chamber to facilitate the folding of feedl material edges by the 333,895 l/l886 Slauson tucker.

PATENTEI] FEB 1 6 I971 sum 2 or 2 BALING MACHINES The present invention relates to baling machines and is more particularly concerned with stationary baling machines especially suitable for compacting and baling waste paper, fibrous materials, and the like.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a baling machine for compressing waste paper, fibrous material or the like including a baling chamber having an inlet for material to be compressed and an outlet for compressed material, a reciprocable ram being housedin the baling chamber, wherein the improvement comprises a cavity formed in at least one sidewall of the chamber, a tucker plate adjacent the cavity protruding into the baling chamber and angled with respect to the sidewall, material weakening means being provided on the reciprocable ram whereby, when the ram moves through the baling chamber, the material weakening means engages material fed into the baling chamber and weakens the material at the point of engagement, "the tucker plate folding the material in the region where it has been weakened so that a uniform bale edge is obtained as the, material is pushed past the tucker plate by the ram, the cavity providing room for both tucking of excess material fed into the baling chamber and at least partially relieving any overpressure of material compressed by the ram.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will provide for one sidewall of the baling chamber having at the baling chamber inlet end, a thrust or retainer plate which may be sprung or hydraulically held substantially coplanar to the baling chamber wall. Attached to the retainer plate is another plate which extends into the baling chamber at an angle to the chamber wall and which may preferably have a serrated free edge, so serving to act as a tucker, tucking the edges of compressed material into a bale shape; the pressure-loaded thrust plate together with an adjacent feeder mouth which is preferably in the form of a wedge-shaped cavity in the chamber wall, tending to relieve any overpressure Within the baling chamber. 1

The serrated edge of the tucker will work with a corresponding serrated edge which may be provided on the reciprocating ram so forming the material weakening means. The serrated edge on the reciprocating ram will weaken any tough material which is to be compressed by piercing or perforating the edge of the material, such as for example, thick cardboard, and the tucker may then fold the perforated edge of the material over as the material is pushed by the ram past the tucker plate; thus a uniform bale edge may be obtained. The serrated edge on the tucker will, it is envisaged, aid the retaining of the material in its compressed state.

Also, in the preferred embodiment, the feeder mouth will preferably be in the form of a wedge-shaped cavity, the apex of the wedge tending towards the baling chamber's outlet; the top of the wedge being preferably strengthened by means of ribs. Though the cavity is preferably wedge-shaped, the cavity may be of any other suitable shape, as long as it provides a cavity to relieve pressure. The remaining portion of the baling chamber wall forming an exit guide channel may be sprung to its substantially parallel, and opposite chamber wall and hinged at the end of the wedge, so dictating a known compresl sion pressure on the so formed bales while the bales are tied up in the compressed state.

With the above and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred form of feeder mouth and tucker on top of a baling chamber, in accordance with the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the feeder mouth and tucker of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, a' baling machine designed in accordance with the present invention comprises a feeder mouth 6 which provides an extra volume within a baling chamber 1 to enable compressed material to expand slightly thereby relieving any possible overpressure on the gearing of the reciprocating ram. The feeder mouth is wedge-shaped with transverse strengthening ribs 9 extending over the wedge roof 7. The sides of the feeder mouth or wedge cavity 6 are closed by walls or gussets 8. On wedge roof 7 hinges 13 are provided to hingedly support the remaining portion of that baling chamber wall. The sidewalls 2 bf the baling chamber 1 have slots 12 for inserting needles by means of which the individual bales are tied up.

1n the top baling chamber wall, closer to the compressible material inlet 11 than the wedge cavity 6 is provided a tucker 14. This tucker has, a sprung plate 3 which is sprung or spring biased by means of connecting rods 10 and large springs 17 below the baling chamber; and also aserrated plate 4 with serrations 5 at the free edge, which extends into the baling chamber 1 at an angle to the baling chamber wall.

As the material to be compressed is fed into the machine through inlet 11, the reciprocating ram 15 upon moving to the left in FIG. 2 compresses the material into the baling chamber 1 past the tucker 14. The reciprocating ram has on its upper edge a serrated edge 16 which, on the ram contacting and compressing material to be compressed, weakens the material by the teeth of the serrated edge piercing and perforating material so that the tucker, 14 is able to bend over the edges of any tough material and form a uniform bale edge, the foldedover material being held folded about its perforations by the next input of feed material being compressed by the reciprocating ram against the previously folded material. The serrated edge 5 of the tucker l4 aids the retaining of the feed material in a compressed state. The whole tucker assembly 14 being sprung on the connecting rods 10 and springs (not shown) below the baling chamber allows for any foreign noncompressible material due to, for example hard lumps or over feeding of the chamber, tobe compressed in a bale without overloading the machine gearing'as would happen if such a noncompressible material caused a restriction.

Thefeeder mouth 6 provides an extra volume within the baling chamber region, which acts as an overpressure release by allowing the slight expansion of any excessively compressed material to thus reduce the pressure within the baling chambenand therefore so release any overpressure on the reciprocating ram s gearing.

The upper baling chamber wall can be extended, and attached to the wedge-shaped cavity wall by hinge 13 (H0. 2), so that together with an extended lower baling chamber wall an exit guide channel for the bales is formed. The upper hinged wall can be sprung to the lower wall by spring assembly 18 to keep bales extruded from the baling chamber in a compressed state while they are tied up.

We claim:

1. In a baling machine for compressing waste paper, fibrous material or the like, including a baling chamber having walls and an inlet for material to be compressed and an outlet for compressed material, and a reciprocable ram being housed in said baling chamber, the improvement which comprises:

at least one wall of said baling chamber having a cavity formed therein;

a tucker plate adjacent said cavity protruding into said baling chamber and angled with respect to said at least one wall;

material weakening means being disposed on said reciprocable ram whereby, when the ram moves through the baling chamber, the material weakening means engages material fed into the baling chamber and weakens the material at the point of engagement; and

said tucker plate positioned relative to said material weakening means so as to fold the material in the region where it has been weakened so that a uniform bale edge is obtained as the material is pushed past the tucker plate by said ram, said cavity providing room for both tucking of excess material fed into the baling chamber and at least partially relieving any overpressure of material compressed by the ram.

2. The baling machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said baling chamber is of a rectangular cross-sectional shape and said cavity is formed in part of a top wall of said baling chamber.

3. The baling machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cavity is wedge-shaped, the apex of the wedge tending towards said outlet of said baling chamber.

4. The baling machine, as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

a retainer plate;

said tucker plate is arranged across said baling chamber and attached to said retainer plate;

said retainer plate is pressure loaded and constitutes part of said top wall of said baling chamber; and

said tucker plate having a serrated free edge and extending into said baling chamber at an angle to said wall in the direction of a forward movement of the reciprocable ram,

but beyond the path of said reciprocal ram.

5. The baling machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein said retainer plate is pressure loaded by spring means.

6. The baling machine as set forth in claim I, wherein said material weakening means'is in the form of a serrated edge on the top edge of said reciprocable ramfacing in the direction of forward travel of said ram, said serrated edge during a compression stroke of the ram, piercing and perforating any tough material and thus allowing the material to be folded to produce a uniform bale edge.

7. The baling machine as set forth in claim 1, including means forming an exit guide channel for said baling chamber, and having upper and lower sides sprung together to hold compressed material bales extruded from the chamber in a compressed state. 

1. In a baling machine for compressing waste paper, fibrous material or the like, including a baling chamber having walls and an inlet for material to be compressed and an outlet for compressed material, and a reciprocable ram being housed in said baling chamber, the improvement which comprises: at least one wall of said baling chamber having a cavity formed therein; a tucker plate adjacent said cavity protruding into said baling chamber and angled with respect to said at least one wall; material weakening means being disposed on said reciprocable ram whereby, when the ram moves through the baling chamber, the material weakening means engages material fed into the baling chamber and weakens the material at the point of engagement; and said tucker plate positioned relative to said material weakening means so as to fold the material in the region where it has been weakened so that a uniform bale edge is obtained as the material is pushed past the tucker plate by said ram, said cavity providing room for both tucking of excess material fed into the baling chamber and at least partially relieving any overpressure of material compressed by the ram.
 2. The baling machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said baling chamber is of a rectangular cross-sectional shape and said cavity is formed in part of a top wall of said baling chamber.
 3. The baling machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cavity is wedge-shaped, the apex of the wedge tending towards said outlet of said baling chamber.
 4. The baling machine, as set forth in claim 2, further comprising: a retainer plate; said tucker plate is arranged across said baling chamber and attached to said retainer plate; said retainer plate is pressure loaded and constitutes part of said top wall of said baling chamber; and said tucker plate having a serrated free edge and extending into said baling chamber at an angle to said wall in the direction of a forward movement of the reciprocable ram, but beyond the path of said reciprocal ram.
 5. The baling machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein said retainer plate is pressure loaded by spring means.
 6. The baling machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said material weakening means is in the form of a serrated edge on the top edge of said reciprocable ram facing in the direction of forward travel of said ram, said serrated edge during a compression stroke of the ram, piercing and perforating any tough material and thus allowing the material to be folded to produce a uniform bale edge.
 7. The baling machine as set forth in claim 1, including means forming an exit guide channel for said baling chamber, and having upper and lower sides sprung together to hold compressed material bales extruded from the chamber in a compressed state. 